Method and apparatus for drying clay ware or kindred products



Feb. 17, 1931..

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING CLAY WARE OR KINDRED PRODUCTS Filed 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l I N V EN TOR Frank M. Hafi /0rd BY M A TORA'EY.

F. M. HARTFORD 1,793,086

Feb. 17, 1931.

F. M. HARTFORD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING CLAY ,WARE OR KINDRED PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR Frank M Her/ford ATTORNEY.

Feb. 17, 1931. HARTFORD '7 1,793,086

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING CLAY WARE OR KINDRED PRODUCTS Filed Jan. 21. 1928 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. I Frarrk M fiar/fara A TTORNE Y.

um-mp su ATENT orrlca FRANK u. smvi roan, or conminus, onro, Assmmm "r'o THE runner anemic comm, or conmos, care, A conromrron or c ne mrrnon mn arrmrusroninnymd CLAY wane on; mnnnn rnonuc'rs Application med mu -21.1928. Serial No. 248,516.

My invention relates to method and apparatus for drying clay ware or kindred. products. It is particularly apphcable tov tunnel drier structure but is not necessarily limitedthereto.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a drier whichvv may readily be designed to accommodate ware loaded on regular tunnel kiln cars,'so that no re-setting from drier cars onto kiln cars for firing is necessary. Such a drier is preferably placed substantially parallel to the tunnel kiln and covers 'a part of what is commonly known as the kiln return track, so that no additional I travel of the kiln cars is necessary, over and above the normal travel of such cars where the drier may be more or less separated from the kiln installation. The cars of dried ware, when discharged from the drier in such a system, may he charged substantially at once, into the kiln for firing. without perceptible loss of heat. However, it will be understood that m drier is not necessarily limited to u'seun er these conditions and its structural characteristics and advantageous features -may be used in other systems and under other conditions.

Another 'of the objects of my invention is to provide for the controlled circulation of a drying-medium throughout the various zones of-the drier in such a way that the product being dried is thoroughly sub] ected to a drying medium of proper temperature and proper humidity content without delivering I the ware) Other objects and advantages will the mannerthat would crack or otherwise injure appear as this description rogresses.

In the preferred form 0 my invention, I pass .a continuous train of kiln cars through the tunnel structure, drawing one or more cars of dried ware from-the discharging end of the drier and then introducing one' or more cars of undried ware into the charging end. To accomplish the drying, I introduce the drying medium, which maybe pure hot air or waste gases, into thedis charging or finishing end of the drier. This medium, whose temperature, and humidity is controllable within certain is preferably drier, or if desired, a

drying medium .at a velocity and in a.

forced. into the discharging end and then caused to pass: through theware in a zigzag path, following this zigzag path for a por end of the drier and on the top thereof; From this compartment, it is delivered through controlled ports in the crown into the interior of the drier along one side thereof. ,This drying medium then passes downwardly toward the bottom of the drying chamber and then laterally through the ware toward the othr side of the drier, part of it being-recirculated through the ware again by the induction action of the fresh supply of drying medium and .a part of it passing uwardly' through another series of ports in the top of the drier and into another compartment extending along the top of the drierand in parallelism with the first compartment mentioned. It finally leaves this last compartment through a stack or vent at thecharging end of the ortion of it may be drawn back into the an and recirculated through the charging end of the drier, as described above.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings nate corresponding parts and'wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a drier built in accordance with my invention.

ture shown in Figure I, and showing a car carrying ware within said drier. l

, Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1. i I

Figure 4 isa section taken on line 4+4 of Figure 1.

Figure2 is an end elevation of the struc-} Figure 5 is a horizontal section of my drier I taken on line ofFigure 6.

Figure 6 is a vertical section of my drier taken on line 66 of Figure 5.

Fi re 7 is a detail in section, illustrating F i ure 8 is a perspective view of a modified orm of drier embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a dryer showing still another modification of my invention.

In the. drawings, with' particular reference to Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, my drier is shown as comprising a tunnel structure 1 with a drying medium duct 2 preferably extending longitudinally beneath the tunnel structure for a substantial distance. At the discharging end of the drier this duct 2 rises and delivers to a power-driven blower fan 5. This fan 5 is provided with an outlet leading down-- wandly through the top of the drier to carry the hot drying medium into the interior of the drier adjacent its discharging end.

The drier is provided with a track 8 upon its floor and the interior of its walls are provided with ledges designed to overhang the car A as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

In the form shown in the drawings, the drier, at its discharging end, and for sub stantially one-half of its length, is provided upon its interior walls with vertical pilasters 10. As seen best in Figure 5, these pilasters are disposed in staggered relation to each other. The result of this is that thedrying medium forced into this end of the drier by the fan 5 is caused, in its general horizontal movement through the tunnel, to zigzag laterally, first toward one side wall of the drier and then toward the other. Thus, this drying medium weaves back and forth through theware and its natural tendency to travel along the sides of the ware settings is minimized.

Approximately at the middle of the drier, jutting wall sections 11, containin the side collecting chambers 11a are provide These jutting sections each have a vertical series of ports 12, which are under the control of dampers 13 and which face toward the dischargin end of the drier. A portion of the heated rying medium passes through these damper-controlled ports directly into the side collecting chambers 11a. Another portion of the drying medium rises upwardly through the roof of the drier, passing through a port 14 which is under the control of a damper 15. Passing this port 14, it enters a collecting chamber 16, which is in direct, undampered connection with the side collecting chambers 11a and from which a portion of the drying medium may pass through a damper-controlled stack 17 to the atmosphere. However, all or a portion of this heated drying medium which enters the collecting chambers 11a and 16 may be drawn'into fan 18 and, b this fan, forced into a compartment 19 which extends along the top of the drier on one side thereof, terminating at the entrance end of the drier.

'The floor of this compartment 19 is provided with a row of ports 20 which lead downwardly into the tunnel of the drier and which are preferably under the control of dampers 21, as shown in Figure 4. These ports 20 are disposed in a row adjacent to the outer wall of the drier. I It will be noted that the charging end of the drier is provided, at. regular intervals, with pilasters 40 which are directly opposite each other and which are joined at their upper ends by a drop wall or flat arch41. These pilasters and drop walls, in some measure, serve to produce a series of compartments in the charging end of the drier, with the result that the lateral movement of the drying medium' in its swirling action is ensured, in spite of the general longitudinal movement of this drying medium which still exists, although somewhat modified.

In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, I-have constructed a drier with two main tunnels 27 and 28which are arranged side by sideand which are separated by a division wall 29, having similar ledges 30 beneath which the cars pass and having a roof 31 mounted upon the two compartments 32 and 33 which are spaced from each other by a third compartment 34. This is the structure of the charging end of the drier. The drying medium is forced into the compartment 34 and passes downwardly through ports 35 and 36 under the control of dampers 37 and 38. It passes along the side of the setting in each tunnel and the currents of air thus introduced into each tunnel pass laterally through the ware setting to the outer walls of the tunnels and then upwardly for recirculation or through the ports 39 and 39 respectively, forcing their way through the flap valve 42 and 42.

The structure of this double drier is otherwise substantially the same as the structure shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. It makes possible the drying of several lines of ware, with a consequently increased production and a decreased cost of drier structure and operation. Separate stacks may be provided for each outlet compartment, if desired.

In operation, it will be understood that the drying medium enters at the discharging end of the drier and follows a generally lon itudinal, tortuous zig-zag path through -t e ware for approximately one-half the length of the drier. In following this longitudinal path, it has only a brief contact with each i o vertical side collecting chambers controlled piece of ware and itv both decreasesin tem- 11a and 16.

i is conducted into the collecting chambers 11a and 16. It enters the collecting chamber 16 either directly through thetopport controlled, by the damper 15' or indirectly through the by the dampers 13. These dampersare independentlya'djusta leand may be so regulated in relation to each '0 er, that the path of the drying medium in the discharging endofthe dr1er may be defiected'somewhat either toward'the bottom. of; the ware settingflor t0- ward its top.

. V The dryin medium which-enters the col? lecting cham%)er 16, being of reduced tem perature and increased humidity, may then be supplemented to any desired extent either directly from the duct 2 or from an independe ent source of heated medium or from both the duct 2 and such an inde endent source. Thismay be effected by the simple expedient of adding air conduits which lead from the duct 2, as shown, or by air ducts leading from some independent source of heated medium to the-chamber 16. It may also be supple- .mented by a recirculation of the drymg medium from the com artment 25 in a manner to be described. the collecting chamber 16, supplemented in any or all of the ways indicated '-above,'is

forced by the fan 18 into the compartment 19. QAfter. it enters the com artment 19, 1t; passes through ports 20,-an thence downwardly along one wall of the main tunnel of the drier in the manner indicated by the arrows in Figures 1, 5 6. Hav1ng-cons1derable force, it asses downwardly and then laterally throu theware setting to the opposite side of t e tunnel, whe e it rises agam to the top ofcthetunnel for recirculation by the in ector action otthe ports '20; or it escapes through ports 23 into compartment 25. Once in com artment 25, part ofit may 0 tothe atmos'p ere through relief port 26. fiowever, 'a. large part of it may be drawn.

.back into the fan 18 which will again deliver it together. with the dryin medium taken from the chamber 16 or om an outside fsource' or from both into the compartment 19. This effects a. recirculatingaction, which ensures that each piece-of ware 1n the charging end of thedrier will be subjected to a swirling current of the drying medium a number of times. i

The result of our structure and. method of control is that the drying medium in the charging end of the drier has both a laterally able forang swirling motion and a generally longitudinal motion. 1

. It win be s en, am this description a medium passes on into e' medium from the medium first passes through the warein the discharging end with a comparatively brief contact therewith and in a longitudinal tortuous path. Part of it is then regulably-c'ollected and supplemented to the desired extent, while another part passes along the ware tunnel into the charging end. Then, the collected part of the drying medium is re-delivered in a comparatively humid state amongst the ware in the charging end of the drier this delivery being so controlled as to ensure a repeated contact with side only. I have contemplated delivering this drying medium downwardly into the tunnel on either side or, alternately, on one side in one zone and then on the other side of the tunnel in another zone. Suchefiect may be obtained by constructing the dryers as shown in Figure '10 wherein the respective compartments 19 and 25 are disposed on first one side and then the other of the dryer structure in their'extent from one end of the dryer structure to the other. With the respective compartments 19 and25 which constitute the drying medium inlet and exhaust compart ments disposed in this manner, it will be seen that the drying medium will beintroduced into the ware chamber on first one side thereof and then on the other. Likewise, the dry- Mid ing medium will be removed from the drying chamber on'op'posing sides thereof, depend ing upon which side the exhaust conduit or compartment located. Thisfis sometimes desirable and effective to produce a more uniform dr It will be understood that the flues an delivery ports maybe read: .ily provided to accomphsh these actions.

It is important to note that I have provided a method and apparatus for producing a dry .ing action wherein the drying-medium is so handled that its velocity humidity-and tem-' perature can be controlled at numerous points throughout its. passage from one end of the drier to the other and that provision is made to controllably recirculate the drying medium in the charging end of the drier, where it is desirable to carry under control a higher humidity content in the drying mediumthan in.-the discharging end. This progressive control is made easy by the construction of drier described and it can be eifectively used to produce the conditions of drying in various parts of the drier, which are most suit- 7 'venstage of the process. t shoal .and apparatus are not necessarily limited to the drying of clay ware. They maybe used understood that my method for the'tratinent of other products. For instance, they may be used for the drying, bakmg or roasting of products such as coal briquettes or for subjecting other roducts to heat for any desired purpose w ether it be for merely drying these products or for separating moisture or other volatile matter therefrom. I desire to have the term drier as used in the specification and claims, interpreted sufliciently broadly to cover the other treatments indicated and it is my intention that this term shall be so interpreted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of drying clay products which comprises passing them through a tunnel drier, passing a drying medium through the discharging end of the tunnel, removing a portion of the drying medium from the tunnel of the drier at a point intermediate its length, adjusting the humidity and tempera ture of the portion of drying medium so removed and introducing it into the charging end of the tunnel of the drier.

2. The method of drying clay products which comprises passing them through a tunnel drier, passing a drying medium in a horizontally tortuous path through the tunnel of the drier in its discharging end, removing a portion of the drying medium from the tunnel of the drier at a point intermediate its length, adjusting the humidity and temperature of the portion of dryin medium so removed and returning it to the tunnel of the drier, and then passing it in a longitudinally spiral path through the tunnel of the drier in its charging end.

3. The method of drying clay products which comprises passing them through a tunnel drier, passing a drying medium with a continuously longitudinal movement in the discharging end of the tunnel and passing a drying medium through the tunnel of the drier with a recirculating action in the charging end of the drier. f

4. The method of drying clay products which comprises passing them through a tunnel drier. passing a drying medium in a tortuous path through the tunnel of the drier 1n its discharging end, collecting a portion of the drying medium from the tunnel of the drier in a collecting chamber at a oint intermediate the length of the drier, a justing the humidity and temperature of the portion of the drying medium so collected and returning it to the tunnel of the drier, and then passing it in a longitudinally sp 1ral path through the tunnel of the drier in its charging end.

5. A drier comprising a ware chamber portion, a plurality of pilasters arranged along the walls of said ware chamber, the pilasters being staggered for a portion of the length of said ware chamber and being opposite each other for another portion of the length of said ware chamber, and means for forcing a drying medium through said ware chamber.

6. A drier comprising a ware chamber portion, a plurality of pilasters arranged along the walls of said ware chamber, the pilasters being staggered for a portion of the length of said ware chamber and being opposite each other for another portion of the length of said ware chamber, and means for passin a drying medium through said ware cham er with a tortuous longitudinal movement in that portion of the ware chamber where the staggered pilasters are located and with a spiral longitudinal movement in that portion of the Ware chamber where the opposing pilasters are located.

7. A drier com rising a ware chamber portion, a means or passin a drying medium through said chamber %or a portion of its length in a tortuous path, a collecting chamber intermediate the length of said drier for collecting a portion of the drying medium from the ware chamber, and means for reintroducing such drying medium into said Ware chamber and passing it therethrough for the remainder of the length of the chamber with a swirling movement.

8. A drier comprising a ware chamber portion, sets of elements arranged along the walls of said ware chamber to substantially prevent the flow of drying medium between said walls and the ware supported in said chamber at the points at which said elements are located, the units of one of said sets being staggered for a portion of the length of said ware chamber and the units of another of said sets being opposite each other for another portion of the length of said ware chamber, and means for introducing drying medium into one end of said chamber whereby the drying medium passes through said ware chamber with a tortuous longitudinal movement in that portion of the ware chamher in which the staggered units are located and with a spiral longitudinal movement in that portion of the ware chamber where the opposing units are located.

9. A drier comprising a Warechamber portion provided with means for retarding longi tudinal movement of drying medium therein, means for supporting ware in said chamber, means communicating with the ware chamber for introducing drying medium downwardly into said chamber at successive points along .one side'thereof, and means communicating with the ware chamber above and suitably spaced from the 'ware in said chamber for withdrawing drying medium at successive points, whereby drying medium passes downwardly along a side of the ware, through the ware, and t en upwardly toward the top of the ware where drying medium passes out of the chamber.

10. A drier comprising a ware chamber portion provided with means for retarding longitudinal movement of drying medium out of the chamber and a portion recirculates therein, means for supporting ware in said through the ware. chamber, means communicating with the In testimony whereof, I hereby afiix my ware chamber for introducing drying mesignature. 5 dium downwardly into said chamber at suc- FRANK M. HARTFORD.

cessive points along one side thereof, and means communicating with the ware chamber above and suitably spaced from the ware in said chamber for withdrawing drying medium at successive points, said introducing 78 means and wlthdrawmg means bemg 1n communication through a direct passage in the ware chamber, whereby drying medium 1 passes downwardly along a side ofthe ware, through the ware, and then upwardly toward an the top of the ware where a portion passes out of the chamber and a portion recirculates through the ware.

11. A drier comprising a ware chamber portion provided with means for retarding 35 longitudinal movement of drying medium therein, a plurality of compartments in communication with said ware chamber, means for feeding drying medium into one of said compartments, and means for supporting 9o ware in said chamber, the said compartment in which drying medium is fed having openings in communication with the ware chamher for introducing drying medium downwardly into said ware chamber at successive 95 points alon one side of said chamber, and the other 0 said compartments having openings above and suitably spaced from the ware in communication with said ware chamber 5 for withdrawing drying medium at succes- 10o sive points from said chamber whereby drying medium passes downwardly along a side of the ware, through the ware, and then upwardly toward the top of the ware where 40 drying medium passes out of the chamber. 105

12. A drier comprising a ware chamber portion provided with means for retarding longitudinal movement of drying medium therein, a plurality of compartments in communication with said ware chamber, means no for feeding drying medium into one of said compartments, and means for supporting ware in said chamber, the said compartment in which drying medium is fed having openings in communication with the ware chamher for introducing drying medium downwardly into said ware chamber at successive points along one side of said chamber, and i the other of said compartments having open- I ings above and suitably spaced from the ware in communication with said ware chamber for withdrawing drying medium at successive points from said chamber, said introducing means and withdrawingmeans being in communication through a direct passage in the ware chamber whereby drying medium passes downwardly along a side of the ware, through the ware, and then upwardly toward a 05 the top of the ware where a portion passes 

